Pesticide Residues Survey on Agricultural Products before Auction at Whole Market in Busan Area during 2006~2008

This study was conducted to monitor the current status of pesticide residues in agricultural products before auction at whole markets in Busan area from March 2006 to December 2008. Of the 7,237 samples that were analyzed by multiresidue methods, 1,164 samples (16.1%) had pesticide residues and 231 samples (3.2%) exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs). 181 samples of the 231 samples exceeding MRLs were applied to the tentative limits because the use of the pesticides for the agricultural products was not established against the MRLs in the Korea Food Code, and it is equivalent to 78.4%. The order of pesticides exceeding MRLs was endosulfan, procymidone, chlorothalonil, ethoprophos, chlorpyrifos, diethofencarb, kresoxim-methyl and EPN. Of 211 samples with two or more pesticides residues, the residues exceeded the MRLs in 80 samples and it is equivalent to 37.9%. This study results suggested that pesticide residues exceeding MRLs could be attributed to the use of inapplicable pesticides for agricultural products and the use of two or more pesticides.